MLB Rumors

Padres pitcher Eric Stults (4-3) earned a victory Saturday against the Nationals, as he pitched eight innings and allowed one run, four hits, and two walks to go along with five strikeouts.

Stults has allowed four runs over his last 19 2/3 innings of work. He has struck out 11 and walked nine while going 2-1 over that span.

Stults is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Arizona. He went 1-2 with a 2.79 ERA in three starts against the Diamondbacks last season.

Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus was slotted atop the team's lineup with Ian Kinsler out for a second-straight day, and he responded with a 5-for-5 performance that included a double, triple, three runs, two RBI and two stolen bases.

Andrus bumped his batting average 20 points, giving him a .282/.328/.350 line with 12 stolen bases in 192 plate appearances. Despite the excellent outing, Andrus won't retain the lead-off spot in the lineup when Kinsler returns.

Tigers right fielder Torii Hunter ended a 0-for-11 skid over his last three games by going 2 for 4 with a double, run and RBI Saturday against the Rangers. It was the first time Hunter scored since May 8.

Hunter has slowed after an April in which he hit .313/.354/.416 with a home run in 178 plate appearances.

Rockies pitcher Tyler Chatwood, who was recently called up, earned his second win of the season Saturday night against the Giants.

Chatwood (2-0) allowed a run on an RBI single by Gregor Blanco in 5 2/3 innings. He gave u seven hits, struck out four and walked four in a 10-2 victory.

Chatwood is schedule to start Friday at San Francisco.

Making his return from the bereavement list, Astros second baseman Jose Altuve had three hits in five at-bats against the Pirates Saturday night. He also drove in a run.

Altuve, who has also been dealing with a jaw injury, has hit .342/.378/.449 in 172 plate appearances.

Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum suffered his third loss Saturday night against the Rockies.

Lincecum (3-3) surrendered three runs in the third and a two-run home run to Wilin Rosario in the fifth. The right-hander was charged with six runs and seven hits over five innings. He struck out four and walked two in a 10-2 loss.

Lincecum will get another crack at the Rockies in his next start Friday at AT&T Park. He is 2-1 with a 3.71 ERA in four starts at home.

Astros closer Jose Veras closed out the 11th inning of a 4-2 win over the Pirates Saturday night. He struck out one in a perfect inning for his sixth save.

After allowing five runs in 4 2/3 innings over his first five appearances, Veras has scoreless outings in 11 of his last 12 appearances. He has a 3.71 ERA and has converted 75 percent of his save opportunites.

Brewers closer Jim Henderson worked a perfect 10th inning for his eighth save Saturday night against the Cardinals.

Henderson has converted all eight of his save opportunities and improved his ERA to 1.00 after Saturday's 6-4 win.

Brewers reliever John Axford escaped with his first win Saturday night against the Cardinals.

Axford (1-3) pitched 1 1/3 innings, allowing a hit, two walks and struck out three in a 6-4 extra-inning win. He has not allowed a run in his last 2 2/3 innings.

Rangers starting pitcher Justin Grimm broke a string of three-straight losses by allowing two earned runs on seven hits and a walk in 6 2/3 innings against the Tigers Saturday. He struck out two in his third win of the season.

Grimm (3-3) allowed five earned runs in five innings in each of his two starts before Saturday. He'll take a 4.02 ERA and 36:14 K:BB ratio into Friday's game against the Mariners.